Bearman

We all know fine well what the other clubs idiot fans did on Sunday, but.... ...I know which ones are innocent until proven guilty.

Haha...I didn't know that was his name too (different spelling though) it's amazing what you learn on here. Regards the article...I also didn't know all those barriers I've been leaning on through the years were patented Leitch Barriers. Who would mind ye'?

The man who invented the football stadium He bounced back from disaster to design and build dozens of our most famous grounds, but who was Archibald Leitch? His biographer (and renowned football acrhitecture historian) Simon Inglis explains all... Be honest. The football ground you go to most often, the stand you sit in: do you know who designed it? The name of the architects? Don’t worry if you haven’t a clue. You’re not alone. You go for the football, for your team, for the craic – not to become an expert in stadium design or construction. No one should, therefore, be surprised to learn that when Archibald Leitch died in April 1939, two days short of his 74th birthday, there was not a single obituary in any newspaper. Not so much as a news item. Even in the architectural and engineering journals that you’d think would have taken a close interest in the stadium business – as they do today – there was just one brief entry. It appeared in the Journal of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, the professional body to which Archie belonged, and it all it said was that Leitch had been a ‘consulting engineer and a factory architect’. No mention of which factories, and no mention at all of football grounds. No mention despite the fact that, had you gone to a Football League match in April 1939, you’d have had roughly a one in three chance of either standing on a terrace or sitting in a stand designed by Archibald Leitch’s company. At his peak in the 1920s, 16 out of the 22 clubs in the First Division had hired Archie at one time or another. Between 1900 and 1939 his client list included Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton, Blackburn, Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea, Fulham, Crystal Palace, Millwall, Charlton, Southampton, Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Wolves, Derby, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Huddersfield, both Sheffield clubs and both Bradford clubs (City and Bradford Park Avenue). Arsenal's Art Deco Highbury had genuine architectural qualities In his native Scotland Leitch worked at Rangers, Hearts, Dundee, Kilmarnock, Hamilton and at Hampden Park. Other commissions included Windsor Park in Belfast, Dalymount Park in Dublin, plus a stand at Twickenham and a complete greyhound and speedway stadium at West Ham, where in the early 1930s there was a doomed attempt to establish a Football League club (Thames AFC, not to be confused with the turn-of-the-century Thames Ironworks who became West Ham United). No other firm of architects or engineers, before or since, has clocked up such a client base in British sport. Learning the ropes How did he manage it? Firstly, as a factory architect Leitch was used to building functional structures quickly and cheaply – just what budget-conscious football clubs wanted. Secondly, Leitch himself was, as all good architects need to be, a great salesmen, and one who clearly loved football. (That he was also an active freemason undoubtedly helped at certain clubs.) But thirdly, and most tellingly, until the late 20th century there were very few architects who bothered with football. Leitch cornered the market. He was a safe pair of hands. And yet how differently it might have worked out. Back at the turn of the century, newly set up on his own account as a ‘consulting engineer and factory architect’ in his native Glasgow, and already with several factory designs under his belt, Leitch’s first major football commission was to design a new stadium for Rangers, the club he supported. Leitch was allowed to design Ibrox for his beloved Rangers Designing factories was one thing: factories had been around for decades. Building a football ground for 80,000 spectators in the early 1900s was quite another challenge. There were few precedents. Most football grounds of the period just sort of grew, stand by stand, terrace by terrace. At best, a would-be stand designer could pick up a few design tips from theatres and music halls. They might also learn a thing or two from the Colosseum and other classical ruins. Otherwise, it was a case of swotting up on the geometrical basics (sightlines and so on), addressing the engineering requirements (loadings, stresses, materials etc), and hoping that things worked out. In Leitch’s case they did not work out. Bouncing back from disaster On the first occasion his newly completed Ibrox Park was tested by a capacity crowd – for Scotland’s match against the Auld Enemy on 5 April 1902 – a short section of timber terracing behind one of the goals gave way, sending 25 fans to their deaths. Archie witnessed the disaster at first hand. What should have been the proudest day of his professional life turned into an designer’s worst nightmare. A system failure… and a tragedy. It was said of the engineer Sir Thomas Bouch that he died ‘a broken man’ after the collapse of his recently completed Tay Bridge in Dundee in 1879. In 1902 Archie faced similar angst. Even though he escaped official censure after an uncomfortable public enquiry, it seemed unlikely he’d work in football again, especially after Rangers hired another consulting engineer to undertake a rethink. Leitch learned from the Ibrox tragedy – and bounced back in style But Leitch was no quitter. If nothing else he had shown while giving evidence that he was a man of confidence, and even wit. (Then, as now, you couldn’t get on in the boardrooms of football clubs without enjoying a drink or a joke.) So first he persuaded Rangers to take him back on. Then he did what any decent designer would do in the circumstances. He went back to the drawing board. Redesigning the terrace The result of his deliberations would be made public at two grounds, both in 1905: Fulham’s Craven Cottage and Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge. At both, Leitch built a new form of football terrace. Designed to overcome all the weaknesses exposed at Ibrox, where spectators stood on timber boards laid on an iron framework, the improved Leitch terrace was built on a bank of earth (or in certain areas the spoil from coal mines). Each terrace step and tread was measured. To create more manageable pens, vertical and lateral aisles were positioned at regular intervals, each aisle being sunken to dissuade fans from standing in them. Fulham have done fine work in restoring Craven Cottage Instead of the timber posts and rails that had, until that point, sufficed to form crush barriers, Leitch designed a tubular steel barrier that could be bolted onto steel rails running under the concrete, to add strength. So convinced was Leitch of this solution that in 1906 he took out a patent, entitled ‘an improved method of constructing the terracing and accessories thereof in football and other sports grounds’. Leaning on Archie Little did I know that when I first stood on the Holte End at Villa Park in 1966 I was standing on just such a terrace, spending many an hour thereafter leaning against a patented Leitch barrier. As did millions of other terrace fans, generation after generation. Nor, at that time, did I realise that the same man had been responsible for designing the magnificent Trinity Road Stand at Villa Park. In fact, I strongly believe that it was this building, completed in 1924, that inspired me to become an historian of football architecture (or ‘anorak’ as some would have it). Since my biography of Leitch was published, the confirmed list of his clients has continued to grow. It now appears that he worked at Chesterfield’s Saltergate, and, as many had suspected, that after his death his company also designed the Mayflower Stand at Plymouth’s Home Park in the early 1950s. More on this – the Leitch company’s last commission before it was wound up in about 1956 – can be read in Russell Moore’s new history Home Park, a Pictorial History. Villa Park's Trinity Road stand was described in 1960 by a Sunday Times reporter as the "St Pancras of football" As for Archie’s legacy, much of his work has long gone, my beloved Trinity Road Stand included (in 2000). This was largely as a result of the Taylor Report into the Hillsborough disaster of 1989, which took place on a Leitch terrace that had been modified with fateful consequences. Two Leitch stands look likely to survive. The wonderful Johnny Haynes Stand at Craven Cottage, and its adjoining pavilion (‘the Cottage’), both built in 1905, are listed Grade II and have been sensitively restored by Fulham. Full marks to them. Also listed and well preserved, albeit having been extended, is Archie’s South Stand at Ibrox, completed in 1929 – while another Leitch survivor, one of his more basic models, is the main stand at Dundee, dating from 1922. Leitch lingers in Liverpool Elsewhere the concrete core of Leitch’s main stand at Anfield, built in 1906, lives on remarkably, buried deep within the vast new stand being built around it this year. Across Stanley Park, two others Leitch stands survive at Goodison Park: the Bullens Road Stand (1926) and Gwladys Road (1938). Neither may be around for much longer, such is Everton’s need to rebuild. The same can be said of the East Stand at Tottenham (due for the chop next year), and the main stand at Crystal Palace (which is in any case much altered). Two stands at Portsmouth and Hearts are also currently on borrowed time. As for Leitch terraces, the last complete surviving examples in England were at Saltergate. Just before the ground was demolished in 2010, I contacted Chesterfield to see if any of the barriers might be saved. Again, full credit to the club, they agreed, the result of which is that two short Leitch barriers can now be seen at the National Football Museum in Manchester and the Scottish Football Museum at Hampden Park – appropriately enough, for Hampden boasted by far the largest number of Leitch barriers ever seen in one place, managing to hold 149,000 for Scotland vs England in 1937. Hampden Park housing hordes for the 1937 Scottish Cup Final; Bill Shankly in front of Leitch's Anfield main stand So Archie has not been forgotten after all. And nor will the architects and engineers of today. For even if most fans don’t know who designed their favourite stand or stadium, you can be sure that the information is out there somewhere, on a website, in a magazine, in a journal, in a club programme. Backed by big corporations and marketing, conferences and exhibitions, today’s stadium and arena industry thrives. What would Archie say? No question – he would be delighted. And fascinated. But perhaps not best pleased when he saw what had happened to his beloved Rangers... http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/meet-archibald-leitch-man-who-invented-football-stadium#:dTDzAO5hZw_znA

The keeper was being distracted that's all. The ball boys/girls copped most of it and could see the funny side.

I hope they catch the b@stards that disrespected Remembrance Sunday up in Dingwall! But we all know fine well that won't happen...if they catch the 'Lancaster Train Thugs' that will be something else!

Hope on. They can't deal with a phone call on serious car accidents mate?

They'll change it when someone with more class spots the terrible spelling error...here's a screenshot of it anyway....

'Rangers should be stripped of SPL titles,' says former Celtic defender Darren O'Dea Rangers used contraversial Emplyee Benefit Trusts to pay players Ibrox club won five titles during 2001-2010 period that ETBs were used Darren O'Dea, 2007 and 2008 SPL winner, says they should be stripped Former Celtic defender says Rangers have had an unfair advantage Mail online spelling errors http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3311140/Rangers-stripped-SPL-titles-says-former-Celtic-defender-Darren-O-Dea.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

People should learn to control themselves after their team loses...if he'd had his car stolen in Liverpool he might have got away with it...but not when you've just lost a game of football.

This is true but you then have situations where current high profile ex-players from the darkside don't want to give their opinion, John Collins the assistant manager for example tonight when asked for his thoughts by STV's Raman opted to stay silent on the matter, afraid to give his take on it in case he upset his employers. He only had to answer the question, but he shit out.

The 55 celebrations will be the mother of all celebrations. They're welcome to watch as long as they pay.

...it's a bit early for POTY predictions, but Holt must be well in the frame.

Waggy done me for fgs this week

Another entry added to my Bucket List: I must catch the 10.15 Lancaster to Glasgow train.

What's the odious one all about man? He must have visions looking for a bronze statue of himself to be erected at the breeze block arena alongside Jinky and that man who knew things.

...and yet it's Rangers FC, the most successful, who are made out to be the despicable ones of Scottish Football.

A simple statement from the SPFL board telling the fans of other teams that it's time they moved on is all that's required. Why are they allowing this to fester?

Michael Ball, £1.4million!!!

A lot was made in the media about the WBA player McClean disrespecting the NA it made the national news fgs! What those cretins that attach themselves to the club with Irish roots are doing is a damn sight worse and it continues to happen every single year. I know the media in England couldn't really give a flying f*ck what's going on up here but surely it's the Scottish equivalents duty to take the baton and do something to stamp this out instead of ignoring it. Ronny Delia must wondering what he's attached himself to, Lennon before him and those currently in charge have never came out and condemned this.

Not sure about any of our current players making Walters side but some of them will be part of the squad when we win our next Premiership title once W&W strengthen with better players who'll want to sign for us in the summer due to our inevitable return to the 'top' league. It's all about the quality of the man in charge at the end of the day. I remember when Hamilton Accies after promotion went up there in 2013/14 under Alex Neil he took them to first place at one point they did drop to 3rd I think before Norwich City swooped for him. Now we must agree Hearts boss Robbie Neilson is an up and coming manager, he too has taken his club up out of the championship and up to first position in the premiership and now sit 2nd behind C*eltic at the moment, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he finishes the season in that position that's if an EPL club don't come calling. Mark Warburton will follow Neil and Neilson in taking his club up from the championship to the premiership and into first place...the only difference I think will be the resources we have and the fact that Warb's will sign better players than Hamilton and Hearts supporters can only dream about will mean we can finish first and seal 55.

It's unprecedented, the worst start ever by defending EPL champions. Looks like the only solution is Jose's jotters.

Yeah what do Arsenal get compared to Rangers for wearing the same kit? Okay Arsenal get more exposure I know but they'll be getting a plus whereas we will be breaking even at best for sure.

Ashley's just a big rich bored fat wean who has nothing else to do but cause argument and grief among many thousands of innocent football fans ranging from grannies to kids...he deserves a right kick in the baws.

Liewell is under pressure from his own fans and a decision to strip us of titles will make him very popular with them.